Wind turbine with adjustable damper

Abstract

A wind turbine is provided, comprising a rotor arranged at a nacelle, the nacelle supported by a tower, and a damper including a movable mass. The damper is adapted for variably adjusting a frequency response of the wind turbine.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The subject matter described herein relates generally to methods and systems for wind turbines, and more particularly, to methods and systems for damping oscillations of wind turbines.[0002]At least some known wind turbines include a tower and a nacelle mounted on the tower. A rotor is rotatably mounted to the nacelle and is coupled to a generator by a shaft. A plurality of blades extend from the rotor. The blades are oriented such that wind passing over the blades turns the rotor and rotates the shaft, thereby driving the generator to generate electricity.[0003]Oscillations of wind turbines, for example the periodic bending of the tower, can cause fatigue of wind turbine components, therefore systems and methods of reducing oscillations of wind turbines are implemented. Typically, systems and methods that reduce oscillations and associated fatigue of wind turbine components have disadvantages such as reducing annual energy production of wind turbine...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Typically, systems and methods that reduce oscillations and associated fatigue of wind turbine components have disadvantages such as reducing annual energy production of wind turbines, or being costly.

For example, methods to reduce oscillations of wind turbines can include forbidding the operation of the wind turbine at some operational frequencies that are near a natural frequency of the tower, which may reduce the risk of oscillation induced damage, but also compromise the energy production of the wind turbine.

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